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HomeMy WebLinkAbout051909jHarnett County members present: Staff present: Town of Lillington members present: Staff present: Joint Meeting of the Harnett County Board of Commissioners Town of Lillington Board of Commissioners May 19, 2009 Nonna's Restaurant, Front Street, Lillington, NC Timothy B. McNeill, Chaiiivan Beatrice B. Hill, Vice - Chaiman Dan B. Andrews, Commissioner Gary House, Commissioner Jim Burgin, Commissioner Scott Sauer, County Manager Wm. A. (Tony) Wilder, Assistant County Manager Dwight W. Snow, County Attorney Sylvia Blinson, Finance Officer Jennifer Slusser, Staff Attorney Kay Blanchard, Clerk Gina Daniel, Assistant to the County Manager Ryan Wetherington, Intern Glenn McFadden, Mayor Marshall Page, Mayor Pro Tem, Commissioner Dianne Johnson, Commissioner Grover Smith, Commissioner Linda Stevens, Commissioner Sonya Arnold, Commissioner Tommy Burns, Town Manager John Bethune, Fire Chief Theresa Thompson, Planning and Zoning Director Vickie Wilson, Clerk David Kutzer, Public Utilities Director Randy Hayes, Public Utilities Guests: Johnson Tilghman, Chairman, Harnett Forward Together Committee Tom Woerner, Harnett County News Mayor Glenn McFadden called the meeting to order at 6:00 pm. Mayor McFadden thanked the group for gathering to discuss topics of mutual interest and highlight activities impacting both jurisdictions as well as recognizing the benefit of cooperative planning and shared leadership. Commissioner Page gave the invocation. Chairman Timothy B. McNeill reconvened the meeting of the Harnett County Board of Commissioners. Mr. Burns discussed long range planning for the Town and County as a result of pending Harnett Health System construction on the Brightwater Science and Technology campus. Mr. Burns said the Board had tabled zoning of the campus until their next meeting. He said there has also been positive discussions regarding the utility agreements for the campus and that the town is willing to work with the Brightwater Board on height restrictions. Mr. Sauer invited the group to hear Dr. Bill Atkinson's briefing at the County Manager's office on Wednesday, May 20, 2009 at 11:30 a.m. Dr. Atkinson is the President and CEO of WakeMed. The group expressed the need for help from the N.C. Department of Transportation (NC DOT) considering the current and future increase in traffic in the area of the county governmental complex due to the new Sheriff's Office and Detention Facility, the Harnett County Department of Public Utilities Operations Center as well as the Brightwater campus. Discussions with NC DOT would also include the potential for pedestrian walkways, a possible bike lane and ability to tie in to open space. Mr. Sauer informed the group of NC DOT's request for a 3 acre easement to replace Bridge #46. Mr. Sauer hopes this will allow for compromise and potential negotiations for the Town and County such as a traffic signal at McKinney Pkwy. Mr. Sauer said replacing Bridge #46 is a priority for NC DOT given they estimate 40,000 cars a day are currently crossing the bridge in to downtown Lillington. Mayor McFadden said that the Town of Lillington has requested to take over the maintenance and upgrades of McKinney Parkway and Alexander Drive from NC DOT. Mr. Burns said that the Town of Lillington is working on a fire station land transfer proposal to the county. The Town of Lillington believes a fire station on both sides of the river is needed and would agree to a joint venture including both fire and rescue. The concept of the design of the new fire and rescue building would look similar and stay in line with the courthouse and other new buildings in the Harnett County complex. The design would need to be approved by both boards. Mr. Burns said the Town of Lillington's Recreation Department is growing fast and he can see the potential for future joint projects. Commissioner Smith mentioned having walk along trails on both sides of the Cape Fear River, from Lillington to Raven Rock as well as to Erwin. Mr. Burns announced that the town is very excited about the plans for a Lillington Community Center in Lillington that would include meeting space and eventually a fitness center. The town received land for the building donated by the Turlington family and is currently working on obtaining grant assistance for this project. The group had general discussion on budget, revaluation and NC General Assembly. Mr. Sauer made the group aware of potential legislation that would put the responsibility of secondary roads on the counties. Chairman McNeill discussed the Fort Bragg expansion and how the growth could positively affect the Town of Lillington and Harnett County. Mr. Tilghman updated the commissioners on the Brightwater Science and Technology campus. The group views the county fair as another opportunity for a joint venture. All present expressed their appreciation for this meeting and have high hopes to continue to work together and keep dialogue open between the town and county. Mr. Wilder reminded the Commissioners of the Local Government Association dinner at Nonna's at 6:30 pm on Tuesday, May 26, 2009. The Town of Lillington Commissioners and staff left the meeting room and the Harnett County Board of Commissioners continued meeting. Mr. Sauer presented the commissioners with the employee benefit option prepared with their input. This option makes dental voluntary but keeps it so the employee doesn't have to contribute to their insurance. Mrs. Faucett feels this is a workable plan. Commissioner Burgin said it is still a very good plan and Mr. Sauer said the employee benefit package is still a great recruiting tool. Commissioner Burgin moved to adopt the proposed changes to employee benefits. Commissioner Andrews seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. Mr. Sauer reported that information had been provided to him by a concerned citizen regarding potential criminal activity by members of the Harnett Historical Association. All present recognized the urgency of having the Overhills historical buildings moved before the land is transferred to the county. Commissioner Burgin motioned to deny the Harnett Historical Association's request for a Memorandum of Understanding and asked the County Manager to assign staff to coordinate the transfer of the Overhills historical buildings from Fort Bragg property by Fort Bragg staff to Harnett County property. Commissioner Andrews seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously. The commissioners asked staff to notify members of the Harnett Historical Association of the plans and invite them to be involved in the project. Mr. Sauer asked the board to address the pending 10% salary adjustment for the Director of Social Services. Vice Chairman Hill said she could not support an increase for just one. Commissioner Burgin said he understood from Mr. Cameron that discussion had been going on for about a year when others received an increase and he did not. This initiative came from the Board of Social Services. Recently it has been brought to the attention of the county manager that approximately 40 Social Services employees receive a yearly $2000 bonus when they meet certain goals and criterias. Trinity Faucett, Director of Human Resources, said this was the eighth year of the bonuses but the policy needs to be looked at as it was put in place at a time when the salaries were out of line. Commissioner Andrews moved to deny a 10% salary adjustment for the Director of Social Services. Vice Chairman Hill seconded the motion. Mr. Sauer said that the state was planning to up -grade the salaries for Social Services directors in the next fiscal year. Ms Blinson said the Director of Social Services' salary is split with the majority of the increase coming from the state. The motion to deny the salary adjustment passed 3 to 2 with Commissioner Burgin and House opposing. Commissioner House moved that the board go in to closed session for the purpose of consulting with the county attorney concerning the handling or settlement of a claim, judicial action or administrative procedure. This motion is made pursuant to N.C. General Statute Section 143 - 318.11(a) (3). Commissioner Andrews moved to come out of closed session. Commissioner Hill seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. Commissioner Andrews voiced disappointment that the Board of Commissioners were not invited to the open house of the new Sheriff's Office and Detention Facility. The commissioners felt this oversight was out of line and asked the county manager to look in to this. The Board recessed at 9:13 pm until 10:00 am on Wednesday, May 20, 2009 when the Board would reconvene in the Board of Commissioners meeting room, 102 E. Front Street, Lillington, NC. MIS cNeill, Chairman Margare egina Danie Acting Clerk